Ali Akbar Rosady
Las Vegas, Nevada – The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to usher in a new broadcast era, launching its landmark partnership with Paramount+ by presenting UFC 324 on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This inaugural event under the exclusive streaming agreement will be headlined by a highly anticipated interim lightweight title bout between the electrifying Justin Gaethje and the charismatic Paddy Pimblett. Complementing this championship clash, the co-main event will feature a monumental women’s bantamweight title defense as reigning champion Kayla Harrison faces the returning legend Amanda Nunes, who steps out of retirement for a chance to reclaim her throne.
UFC CEO Dana White formally unveiled the stacked fight card for the first numbered event of 2026 during halftime of the Chiefs vs. Cowboys NFL game on Thanksgiving, signaling the magnitude of the upcoming partnership and the caliber of competition awaiting fans. The event marks a pivotal moment for both the UFC and Paramount+, as the promotion transitions away from its traditional pay-per-view model for this and subsequent numbered events, making them accessible to Paramount+ subscribers at no additional cost.
The main event pits two of the lightweight division’s most compelling figures against each other for the interim championship. Justin Gaethje, known universally as "The Highlight" for his relentless aggression and explosive striking, brings a professional mixed martial arts record of 25-4, including an 8-4 run in the UFC. Gaethje’s career is decorated with an astounding 20 post-fight bonuses across his 12 UFC appearances, comprising twelve Fight of the Night awards and six Performance of the Night accolades, alongside one Knockout of the Year and one Fight of the Year recognition. His brutal leg kicks, powerful hooks, and unwavering pressure have established him as a fan favorite and a perennial contender. Gaethje, a former interim lightweight champion himself, most recently showcased his striking prowess in a dominant victory over Rafael Fiziev, following a thrilling "Fight of the Year" contender against Dustin Poirier. His path to this interim title shot underscores a consistent willingness to engage in high-stakes, high-action contests against the division’s elite.
Facing Gaethje will be Paddy Pimblett, "The Baddy," a fighter who has rapidly ascended to global stardom since his UFC debut. With a professional record of 20-3, Pimblett boasts an unblemished 5-0 record inside the Octagon, accumulating five performance bonuses (four Performance of the Night, one Fight of the Night). Pimblett’s appeal extends beyond his fighting skills, which blend evolving striking with dangerous submission grappling; his flamboyant personality and engaging microphone work have cultivated a massive following. His recent victories over opponents such as Tony Ferguson and Jared Gordon have demonstrated his tenacity and ability to finish fights, propelling him into the upper echelon of the lightweight division. The winner of the Gaethje-Pimblett interim title bout is expected to earn a lightweight title unification clash against the reigning undisputed champion, Ilia Topuria, later in the year, setting the stage for a blockbuster showdown that will determine the undisputed king of the 155-pound division.
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The co-main event is poised to be one of the most significant women’s fights in UFC history, featuring the return of Amanda Nunes, widely regarded as the greatest female fighter of all time. "The Lioness," a two-division champion who held both the bantamweight and featherweight titles simultaneously, retired from the sport after a dominant bantamweight title defense at UFC 289 in June 2023. With a professional record of 22-5 (15-2 UFC), Nunes has defeated a who’s who of female mixed martial arts, including Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, and Valentina Shevchenko (twice). Her decision to return after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus to challenge for the bantamweight title speaks volumes about her competitive drive and the allure of facing a formidable opponent like Kayla Harrison.
Kayla Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, has transitioned seamlessly into mixed martial arts, maintaining an unblemished professional record of 16-1. After a dominant career in the Professional Fighters League (PFL), where she secured two championships, Harrison made her highly anticipated UFC debut at UFC 300 in April 2024, securing a decisive victory over former bantamweight champion Holly Holm. Her powerful judo throws, relentless ground-and-pound, and submission skills have made her a formidable force. Her quick ascent to a title shot against Nunes, after joining the promotion just a year prior (implying 2025 in the context of the Jan 2026 event), underscores the UFC’s confidence in her ability and the immediate impact she has made. This clash represents a generational showdown: the established G.O.A.T. seeking to reclaim her status against a dominant force widely tipped as her potential successor.
"Saturday, January 24, in Las Vegas kicks off this incredible partnership with Paramount," White stated in a press release, emphasizing the magnitude of the event. "I am so excited for UFC fans that our first card has six current and former champions, including the long-awaited return of the greatest female fighter of all time, which is definitely the biggest women’s fight ever. Also, in the main event, we have Justin Gaethje versus Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title to see who will face Ilia Topuria later this year on Paramount+. This card is absolutely stacked — every fight is a must-see. This deal is such a huge win for fans with no more pay-per-view. I look forward to 2026 being our best year ever."
Beyond the two headlining acts, UFC 324 boasts an impressive main card filled with high-stakes matchups. Former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, known as "Suga" for his flashy striking and dynamic personality, will aim to restart his journey back to title contention against the perennial contender Song Yadong. O’Malley, with a professional record of 18-1 (1 NC), recently lost his bantamweight title to Merab Dvalishvili and will be looking to re-establish his dominance against Yadong (21-7-1, 1 NC), a powerful striker with significant knockout potential.
In the heavyweight division, the surging Waldo Cortes-Acosta (11-1 pro) will step into the Octagon for an impressive sixth time in ten months, demonstrating remarkable activity and a commitment to climbing the ranks. He will face fan favorite Derrick Lewis (27-12, 1 NC), "The Black Beast," who holds the record for most knockouts in UFC heavyweight history with 15. Cortes-Acosta, a former professional boxer, has displayed rapid improvement in his MMA game, while Lewis continues to be a dangerous, one-punch knockout threat.
Rounding out the main card is the return of featherweight contender Arnold Allen (19-3 pro), who makes his comeback after an extended layoff following his last fight in April 2023. "Almighty" Allen, a well-rounded fighter with a strong wrestling and striking base, will face the explosive knockout artist Jean Silva (13-2 pro), who has quickly made a name for himself with impressive finishes.
The preliminary card for UFC 324 is equally compelling. The featured preliminary bout will see a high-level women’s flyweight clash between former UFC women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso (16-3 pro) and former two-time women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas (12-6 pro). Grasso, who famously dethroned Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight title, will face Namajunas, "Thug Rose," who moved up to the flyweight division after a storied career at strawweight. This bout has significant implications for the flyweight title picture.
Another key preliminary fight will showcase an elite bantamweight contest between the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov (17-0 pro), a Dagestani grappling phenom and a rising star in the division, and the formidable Deiveson Figueiredo (23-4-1 pro), "Deus da Guerra," a former UFC flyweight champion who has successfully transitioned to bantamweight. This fight pits Nurmagomedov’s suffocating wrestling against Figueiredo’s aggressive striking and submission game. Finally, middleweights Ateba Gautier and Andrey Pulyaev are set to clash, providing further depth to the preliminary action.
The UFC 324 main card is scheduled to begin at a new time of 9 p.m. ET, with the preliminary card kicking off at 7 p.m. ET and the early prelims commencing at 5 p.m. ET. The entire event will be available to stream live at no extra cost for Paramount+ subscribers, marking a significant shift in how fans access premium UFC content.
UFC 325 Announcement
In addition to the details for UFC 324, Dana White also announced a major headliner for UFC 325, scheduled for January 31, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. Reigning featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski (26-4 pro) will defend his title against the dynamic rising contender Diego Lopes (24-6 pro). Volkanovski, a long-reigning champion known for his technical prowess and relentless pressure, will face Lopes, who has captivated fans with his exciting, high-paced style and impressive finishes since joining the UFC. This title defense sets up another thrilling championship contest as the UFC continues its global expansion in 2026.
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